Category: Events

This May holiday weekend should have been the Big Apple’s thirtieth year of running Blossomtime in Putley, but sadly it won’t be happening this year. This annual opportunity to enjoy the orchards full of apple blossom and to taste many different local ciders, perries and apple juices has become an established part of the calendar in this corner of Herefordshire.

The new product from last year’s harvest is becoming ready to drink – and there’s no stopping it! Many craft makers depend on local events and tourism and hospitality businesses to sell their cider, perry and apple juice – and so they are taking a big hit from lockdown.

This year’s blossom is the start of next year’s cider – but first there is a need to sell last year’s stock. Normally, Putley Parish Hall would have been heaving with visitors buying cider, perry and apple juice. The nine producers who had arranged to be there have been working hard to find extra ways to make their drinks available within the licensing laws – whether that is through online orders, local deliveries, click and collect, farm shops and village stores.

So the Big Apple is supporting them through a special information area on their website at https://www.bigapple.org.uk/blossomtime-2020/. Many regular Big Apple venues are to be found there including Once Upon a Tree, Gregg’s Pit, Woodredding Farm, Pope’s Perry, Yew Tree Farm and Jus Apple Juice. And two special guests who each won awards at last year’s Big Apple Cider and Perry Trials: Bartestree Cider, last year’s Champion Perrymaker, and Halfpenny Green Cider, winner of the bottle fermented/conditioned cider. So please support our local makers. Take a look to find out how you can get hold of your favourite tipple – or try something new – or better still, try several!

I made this rather different Simnel Cake one Easter when our friends were coming to stay and it was voted a big hit with all concerned. I just hope that with the present odd shopping situation, you will be able to buy all the necessary ingredients. I won’t be making one this year as we have so much Christmas cake left. My husband has been on a very strange diet – low fibre – and unable to eat dried fruit. I make my Christmas cake for him, so there is a lot left!

Slightly different this month as the recipe is on the BBC’s “Good Food” website – use the link below to get to it:

Join us for Ledbury’s Celebration of Breakfast over the weekend of Friday 31st January, Saturday 1st February and Sunday 2nd February – the 8th Ledbury Big Breakfast.

19 local venues in and around Ledbury are taking part on one or more days in this event organised by Ledbury Food Group to celebrate our local food and drink producers and retailers and a healthy breakfast. The event takes place at cafes, pubs, hotels, butchers and delis in and around Ledbury.

Again there is lots of choice from the lightest to the heaviest breakfast including eggs in all ways, a breakfast stack, a “fruity oat jar”, homemade baked beans, haddock with muffins, avocado and bacon, cider sausages with trimmings, breakfast baps, marshmallow pancakes, kedgeree, celeriac rosti, a vegan fry-up and locally produced charcuterie. Continue reading “Full details of the Ledbury Big Breakfast now available”

Ledbury’s new Evening Farmer’s Market ends 2019 with a special Christmas market on Thursday 5th December from 6 to 8pm at the Barn, St Katherine’s, on same night as Ledbury’s Shops Late Night Opening.

As well as the regular stalls, special treats on sale will include chocolates, marshmallows, empanadas, Juneberry Liqueur and a “community” stall with “Big Apple Cider Vinegar” and “Ledbury Heritage Centre” Quince and Medlar Jelly, plus mulled wine and cider too! We will be singing carols at 6.30 and 7pm. Continue reading “Ledbury Evening Market celebrates Christmas”

The Big Apple is a community event celebrating apples and orchards and how they have shaped the picturesque Herefordshire countryside. This Harvestime 2019 marks our 30th Anniversary, so come and join our celebrations!